Food Serivice or LTL?

Foodservice is easier to get into as a new graduate. LTL gonna take some hustle and work to get into also every new driver is trying to get LTL jobs. It’s easier then Foodservice and can pay better for less physical labor.

Foodservice pays well but it’s almost all hand unloading. Hand cart 2 wheeler and hand stacking and running it into stores. Why Foodservice is always hiring.
A lot of people can’t hack the work. Now it can pay a lot of money. It can be a good life if your body can handle it and you treat your body right. It can be a stepping stone into LTL.

If you can land a LTL job out the gate I’d jump on it. But it’s not easy.

As in YRC. If you talk to a financial guru and ask them if they would work for a company in massive financial debt what do you think their answer would be?

 

I'd go with LTL/Line Haul.
Where is your location?
Old Dominion Freight Lines hires new cdl school grads that have all the endorsements.

 

Another opinion.... I know...opinions are like xxxx...everyone has one...

I'd go for food service. The physical work will keep you young. Just face the fact that the work is exercise. Live your life for building up to handle that exercise well. I think you'll thank me.
Guys get injured doing this because of mental laziness. They allow themselves to pick things up incorrectly. Then get injured. Stay on top of mental. Do it right. You'll grow old and healthy.

LTL has time constraints. You'll can go pretty long in a day. But gotta get it done in time allotted. It can be like LTD in keeping you sitting in that seat for long periods. That's isn't good for your legs. The legs are half the heart.
I loved doing LTD. But it was getting to my legs. They liked me. I got it done. They'd give me tough runs. I'd have to sit there and keep going. Get it there on time. No time for extra breaks. That does a number on the legs.
I just started Oil Field. Getting out of the truck often to load/unload. I remarked to the trainer that this was good for me. On third load of the night. Legs actually feeling normal when out of the truck. Has taken a couple weeks away from LTD just to get to normal.

 

Food service is a young man's hustle. The last outfit I was with 15 years ago, there was always a guy or two out with knee injuries, slipped disks in their back, strains, etc. Sure, there's guys doing it in their 50's but that's more the exception than the rule. And those are guys who have a boatload of seniority so they're bidding on gravy runs. If you're young, in good shape, and got time to build your seniority, it might be the way to go. But it wreaks havoc on the body and all it takes is one aluminum ramp glazed over from oil or ice to put you out to pasture for good. I wouldn't plan on food service for the long haul unless you eventually want to bid over to shuttle runs at night. But LTL linehaul pays way better, there's guys at my outfit doing $100k, home every day, and off every weekend.

 

I remember one year in the winter US Foods gave me a ramp after a snow storm that had no holes in it. Very old aluminum ramp. When it was drug around previously it had water from spray on it. When I got it the ice froze. Didn’t realize it until I took my first wheeler down it and went sliding. Lucky I kept my balance. Had to throw ice melt from the store on it. Lol.

 

If you are fortunate to get an LTL job right out of school, you will most likely be a dock worker in a dock-to-driver program. Very few LTLs hire inexperienced drivers and those that do only do so in areas with extreme need. They will always hire someone with experience over someone with none (given a similarly clean driving record, of course). Considering LTL jobs are some of the most sought-after CDL gigs out there, it probably shouldn't be your primary plan. That being said, go for it, but don't put all your eggs in that basket.

 

Food service may not translate into the experience LTL's will count later down the road as the experience they are looking for. It's not OTR, usually regional or local, with short trailers.

The only way I would do it starting out is some intrastate with a 53" trailer otherwise the experience may not be recognized by the industry and you may be stuck in food service. Could be wrong about that, always exceptions.

 

I’m in foodservice. You WILL work your butt off but you will also be handsomely rewarded financially. It’s nothing to making 80 to 100+ a year depending on how much extra you want to do. You can literally write your own check amount. I do the bare minimum because I enjoy my home time and I make anywhere from 76 to 80 a year. We have guys easily clearing 100. It’s hard work but it gets easier and like someone above said it will keep you young. Make no mistake it will make a man out of you. I will honestly probably look to get into something with less physical work as I get older but for now I’m good with it as long as the money continues. If I could find something that pays what I make with less labor I’d jump on it.